Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-26
LORDSBuRG.
Successful sale of Lots Yesterday
i'm the New TONnsite'

at Lordsburg. The cars were cro"ueu
before they left this city, but, as they
took on large numbers of people at Pasa'
dena and other points, it can be imagined
how they were jammed before reaching
their destination. On arriving at Lords
burg, a great number OF people were
there in vehicles from Pomona and the
surrounding country, and when the San
Bernardino train arrived with another
Ioraa delegation. there could not have
been less than two thousand persons on
the grounds. t,;t,,l
Lordsburg is laid off upon beautiful
slope of land, mostly covered WIN
grain. The background is formed by
the mountains which enclose San Dimas
Canon, and away to the right stretches the
stately Cucamonga range, with It's mag
nificent peaks. Farther on, Mount San
Berpardino rears her lofty snow'capped
head. The spurs which divide San
jose valley from that in which Lords
burg is situated serve to complete the
frame of as beautiful picture as
Nature, improved by art, could present
to the admiring eye
The protector of this latest candidate
for urban favor did not fail to carry OUT
his promise to supply an ample lunch
for all corners. But the comers were SO
ravenously hungry after their fine early
morning ride, that they made the food dis
appear far more rapidly than Moore
and his lieutenants could fetch it on.
At last. however, all were satisfied, and
q grand rush was made for the platform
where the sale was to take place. There
were three auction eers present, Messrs
Bell. Matlock and Ambrose, and the
terms of the sale were presented TO the
audience in very clear manrer by Mr..
Ambrose.
Little books, containing the number
of the blocks and the lots, and the prices
fixed upon each, were distributed among
the audience. The price marked on each
lot was the standard price, and the sale
proceeded by putting the choice OF lots
in competition to the highest bidder.
The first choice brought $500; then Tor
several bids the choice remained IN the
hundreds, " hen it lowered to $40, $50,
$50, and vitrated between that figure
and $40 Tor long time. 1t then dropped
to S35 and $50, and hung there Tor awhile
Another drop of five followed, and the
bidding fuctuated down to $50 and Sl5,
where it remained until near the close.
Finally it dropped to $40; then to 80,
and here it remained stationary for
while, when it was announced that pur-
chasers could take their choice of lots
of schedule figures.
The bidding was spirited throughout.
AS general thing the corner lots were
marked at $500 and the Others at SOU
each. The choice of lots at the begin
ing was made in the blocks on the south
side of the tract and fronting the depot.
Then there was a strong diversion IN
favor of the blocks on the north side OF
the tract, near the depot. AT times
the buyers would take long fights into
the blocks at the northeastern extremity
of the tract, and then they would scatter
and take lots at random everywhere.
During a slight lull, the auctioncer was
asked to try whole block at once,
several gentlemen saying they would
like to bid on Block No. 72, finely
located body of land on the north side OF
the tract. and three blocks east ot the
depot. 1t was put up, and the bidding
was spirited. Nine Thousand dollars
was bid. This was speedily raised. first
$500 at time; then 5000 and 500 at
a bid. until $751; was reached, when
it was knocked down to MIR. Silver.
This sale threw new life into the crowd.
and the bidding for choice was resumed
with renewed spirit.
When the option of lots without pre-
MUM was given to the crowd, the mark
ers and the clerks had all that they
could do to keep up with the sales.
This lasted for some time, and another
lull took place. At this juncture. the
and untiriDg protector ct the
new town got upon the stand and put
every body in good humor by one OF his
characteristic speeches. He discoursed
on the splendid prospects OF the new
town; showed that it was mainly pro-
NOTED by powerful railroad company,
who would do everything in their power
tn make it prosperous business center.
He then descanted ON the beauties OF the
scenery and richness of the soil, declar-
ing that he would give any man lot for
nothing who would dig down to the
gravel and 60 through anything but the
richest aIluvion. A number of brawny
Los Angeltnos looked as if they were go.
ing to try 10 win that lot, but they
didn't. Mr.. Lord then burst forth in
blaza of eloquence upon the water sup
ply of Lordsburg. He said water would
ba piped to the town from Indian
Hill in large volume. II that
was not enough, it could be had
by sinking wells few feet anywhere,
and such water So sweet, so pure, so
soft! "Why, you could wash lady's
flannels in it without puckering, so soft
and dulcet is the water of the wells OF
Lordsburg!" Some doubt arose in the
audience whether the puckering applied
to the man who should wash the lady's
fannels; to the lady whose fannels
should be washed, or to the hannels
themselves. We fear this will always
remain moot subject of inquiry. The
mass of the audience, however, justly
appreciated the speech, and applauded
the eloquent orator to the echo. Then
lot buying again proceeded with energy,
and kept up till the train arrived and
the sale closed.
1t was impossible to get the exact
figures of the sales. But from the esti-
mates made by number of gentlemen
who kept tally and notes, it was be
ieved that the total would reach about
5000. 600 for purchase of lots, and Sl5,-
600 for premiums.
If these figures are approximately
correct, and we believe they are, the
town site sale at Lordsburg was one OF